10/30/08

This cupcake is pure fattening decadence. It has a ton of fat, sugar, calories, butter, etc..., but you know what? It's so totally worth it.

I love pecan pie, but I'm sorry I'm already bored with how boring it is. I mean the crust is good, but I want to kick that up a notch by adding something to it, be it heat, cheese or something. And then I saw these little pecan cupcakes over at Bake or Break.

I thought how perfect a little flavor combination in a cupcake? But I was dying to add a frosting to it--a cheese frosting on there, but didn't want cream cheese because it's way too heavy for this type of cupcake, so I settled on something lighter like mascarpone cheese. And it worked, perfectly. You seriously must try these. They are easy as pecan pie to make. And try this frosting on some of your other creations: be it breads, carrot cakes, pancakes, pound cakes, cake cookies, etc... It really is that good. The only down side is mascarpone cheese is expensive.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine all ingredients and mix well. (I added all ingredients, mixed then added the butter in, mixed, then added in the eggs and mixed again)
Spray muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.
Fill each 3/4 full. (I filled them to the top)
Bake in preheated oven for approx. 30 – 40 minutes
(start to watch them after 30 minutes as this cooks all depending on your oven and type of cupcake pans).
You can tell they are done when a toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean, just like a cake does. Cool before frosting.
To make the frosting see below.

Mix the mascarpone with the icing sugar and cinnamon to taste.
Frost cupcakes have they cooled completely.
Makes 12 regular size cupcakes

Cook Notes:
I added in way more pecans, about 2 cups. I did not chop the pecans too small, but rather big chunks. The original recipe was half of what I have up there; I assume it was for mini cupcakes. I made regular sized cupcakes, but you can try the mini’s and tell me how they were. These cupcakes do not rise, so how I went ahead and filled them to the top. The batter will be liquidly, that’s ok. The original recipe did not add in vanilla; I simply had too.
The frosting should not be too sweet as the cupcake already is. So adjust the amount of sugar you put in there. I didn’t want it too sweet, but more of a mild taste with some cinnamon so I used about 1 ½ TB of confectioners sugar. I’ve also seen these cupcakes with no frosting and a good drizzle of melted milk chocolate over the tops.

Notes: Keep in mind this frosting does not have the same type of consistency as regular frosting this is thinner, and will not poof up high. So it's best to chill this first before spreading. If you put the frosting on a warm cupcake it will dribble down the sides in no time. The next time I make these I will only fill the muffin tins up halfway so the muffins aren't as thick. And I will only add in 1 cup of flour instead of 1 1/4 cup as I want more of a pie like batter.

My husband walked by and saw these- he said "I eat those, what are they?"

SO glad you did an interior picture- they look luscious. I love mascarpone cheees- I made oatmeal raisin sandwich cookies not too long ago and the filling was made with a mixture of cream cheese, mascarpone and honey- so good!

I love Monica's comment! Thanks for the laugh. I definitely eat these too. Nice twist on puh-cahn pie (you being an Emeril fan, I know you know what he says about pee-cans: that those are for truck drivers.) :)

about vanilla sugar blog

Unique eats, creative recipes, as simple as possible.What drives me to create? Seeing dishes in restaurants, meals created on TV, recipes in cookbooks/online, and I always think to myself why didn’t they add this or why did they leave out that? Love to question, love to research, and love to learn about combining different flavors and textures in recipes.Recipe creations please email: vanillasugarblog@aol.com